Another Giants-Braves matchup, another one-run game. Unlike Fridays splash hit special though, the drama ultimately went in San Franciscos direction this time around.
Through the seventh inning, I was expecting Id mostly be writing about Jonathan Sanchezs terrific performance. Sanchezs first seven innings were reminiscent of Tim Lincecums outstanding series opener: he would be a little shaky with his command within the first inning, but then settled right into a groove and dominated. After a first inning walk to Derek Lee, he didnt allow a hard-hit ball until Matt Diazs flyout to in the actual fifth, and didn salomon Speedcross 3 Men t allow a hit until Tim Hudsons soft line drive single in the sixth. Along the way, Sanchez struck out 11 and had retired 14 consecutive batters at some point.
Meanwhile, back on offense, the Giants couldnt manage even more than a variety of walks and groundballs against Hudson. The lone run they provided for Sanchez came courtesy of two shadow-a sisted dropped flyballs; one through the soon-to-be infamous Brooks Conrad, whom well get to in just a minute.
Then came the next thing I figured Id be Salomon Speedcross 3 CS Women covering, the Braves comeback in the bottom of the eight. Having a runner on and 105 pitches on his arm, Bruce Bochy pulled Sanchez for Sergio Romo. Here are my notes from the inning:
bot 82nd hit for ATL, sharp liner by GonzalesConrad with a opportunity to be considered a hero flubs a buntGlaus hitting for AnkielRomo set for Jonathan; gutsy move by BochHinske set for GlausHinske HRBraves lead 2-1
I heard someone on salomon Speedcross 4 the radio today quote Bochy as saying he was going to play the matchups from the sixth inning onward today, and in this case it obviously backfired as Bobby Cox had an additional bat. I usually do not second gue s managers, however for me it was a questionable call at that time, as the Braves hadnt done anything with Sanchez and Romo were built with a rough outing on Friday.
Bochy stuck with his guys in the ninth inning, and didnt make use of a pinch hitter other than Travis Ishikawa in the pitchers spot, while Cox worked his way through three pitchers. The Giants managed to keep runners on base long enough for Buster Posey to find Conrad having a hard groundball. In what seemed like an act of destiny, Conrad allow the ball sail with the five-hole, giving Freddy Sanchez sufficient time to score the eventual winning run from second.salomon Kids Running Shoes Which brings us to the third thing I thought Id be writing about: Conrads defense. I was fully ready to stick up for Conrad a bit here, particularly within the dropped flyball, however that last error was really inexcusable for any major league player within the post-season. The ball was hit right to him and also the game was at risk; if he'd even kept the ball within the infield it might have likely been a different game.
All in all though, it was the the 3rd great bet on the series.